Construction has started on a "state-of-the-art" hospice building overlooking the Firth of Forth.

Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith cut the first turf at St Columba's Hospice in North Edinburgh yesterday as he is a supporter of the charity.

The former building, dating from the 1970s, has been demolished but GRAHAM Construction said it would use some retained features including a stained glass window and an iron wind vane in its "new, modern care facility".

The £26m centre, due to be completed in summer 2014, will have eighteen single rooms where before there were eight.

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Rooms will be en-suite and fitted with moving and handling equipment, and space for extra beds for a loved one to stay the night.

Four new three-person rooms will bring the number of beds to 30.

A spokesman for GRAHAM Group said architects Jane Darbyshire and David Kendall had designed the new building with the "comfort and dignity" of patients in mind.

He said: "The large, comfortable patient rooms will look and feel more like real bedrooms, with special features to conceal medical equipment and support relaxation."

Michael Graham of GRAHAM Group said: "The work done by St Columba's to improve the lives of those with terminal illnesses and their families is incredible, but there was a recognition that the main hospice building was no longer suitable. We are proud to be strengthening our relationship with them by creating this state-of-the-art specialist palliative care unit, which will support the community for generations to come."

(NE)